Danuta Hubner, the Polish government's representative at the convention, says her country regards the ability to set its own taxes as a necessary tool in its bid to close the economic gap with western Europe.

ECONOMIST: The European Union's convention

After London's successful bid, home values here narrowed the gap to 10% to 20% below the city average.

WSJ: London Developers Hope for Olympic-Size Boom

Yet as England stuttered to victory in their opening game against France, the first round of Four Nations fixtures seemed to serve only to underline the vast gap in quality that the Aussies will bid to ruthlessly underline at the DW Stadium in Wigan.

BBC: Closing the gap?